How to Determine if Your Company is Socially Responsible

Corporate social responsibility, also referred to as “CSR,” is the behavior and actions of a company that positively impact its environmental and social surroundings. Today, if your company isn’t practicing corporate social responsibility, it’s well behind those that have already started. Some companies have a department dedicated to fulfilling the CSR needs, planning all initiatives, and following through. There are numerous ways to tackle CSR, and depending on your company’s resources and abilities, it’s beneficial for your company to implement all of these pillars.

Volunteering Time and/or Expertise

Volunteering is a popular choice for companies looking for ways to be socially responsible. Whether it’s volunteering to clean up a park or to work at a soup kitchen, it’s time well spent. Some companies choose volunteer activities that match the company’s message and values, while others simply choose volunteer activities that they’re passionate about. Companies that have departments dedicated to CSR might have established programs for matching employees with volunteer opportunities. Some employees prefer to volunteer their expertise. If you’re in the banking industry, you might want to volunteer to teach students more about finance.

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Philanthropy

Philanthropy is a common choice for companies that may be too busy to schedule in frequent volunteering or those who have the ability to donate large amounts. Most companies donate money to organizations of their choice, while other companies choose to donate needed merchandise. Donating specific merchandise can be just as beneficial, especially if it’s going to people who truly need it. When it comes to money donations, there are companies that take part in matching gifts. This means that the company matches an employee’s donation to an organization of their choice. Most programs like this have limits, but you might be surprised at how much companies are willing to spend.

Cause Promotion and Cause-Related Marketing

Cause promotion and cause-related marketing both fall under CSR, but they have slight differences.

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Cause promotions are specifically for increasing awareness about a certain cause, without the goal of sales in mind. A company uses its own resources for this. Whether it’s spreading the word through social media, including information about the cause in brochures, or making the cause visible to everyone that comes to your storefront or building, you’re not only educating your customers about an important cause, you’re displaying your values as a company.

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Cause-related marketing is done with social responsibility in mind, but it does correlate with sales. An example of this is offering a product in which a percentage of the sale goes to a certain charity. Another example is buying a product to give a product. When a specific product is purchased, a company will give that same product to someone in need.

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Workplace Behavior

Your place of work definitely factors into CSR. Most likely, every workplace can be doing something differently to be more socially responsible. Examples include having an employee collection of donations, promoting recycling, turning the office lights off before heading out to lunch or a meeting, using both sides of the printing paper, and more. Small changes can make all the difference. Along with these actions, the treatment of employees falls into workplace behavior as well. Treating employees both well and equally is obviously the socially responsible route.

Company or Industry Related

Being socially responsible also means looking into the impact your company or industry is making and then taking action to fix the negatives. You might need to set aside time to look into different aspects, but it’s worth it to be socially responsible.

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One example is reducing packaging. If during your analysis you realize your company is using too much packaging, look for a way to reduce it instead of continuing to waste materials. Another way to go about this is to research the trends of the industry. Look into what other companies of the industry are doing to be socially responsible. Maybe they’re doing something that you could be doing.

These are all beneficial ways to practice CSR. Not only are they environmentally and socially beneficial, they can boost morale and profits. While taking part in CSR, it’s important to keep track of all initiatives and the impact each one has. Figure out what works for your company and what doesn’t. It may take some trial and error, but your company will find its place in the world of CSR if it hasn’t already.

Is It Necessary To Follow Traffic Rules?

On a daily basis, we constantly hear news about different forms of road accidents, either because of some stupid drivers who recklessly drives their vehicle, over-speeding, and the list goes on. The dumbest mistakes people ever make we put all the blame to our government – for providing insufficient funds to spend with road widening, infrastructure upgrades, better traffic system, and best walkie-talkie[1] or radar speed gun for law enforcement. The lack of employment, low quality of education, corruption, sudden increase of necessity prices, and the unfinished road construction projects. Sometimes, we, as citizens, often forget that we also play a very important role in the chain process, and thus we should not put all the blame to our government.

Common Sense

There is no point denying that it is actually the government’s role to provide us good road and road signs. But if citizens do not actually follow these traffic rules as the basis of standards, how can they ever guarantee our safety? Yes, you may excuse yourself for not knowing the standard safety measures, but come on! We are not children anymore. Simple 1-2-3’s and a little common sense will do.

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Motorcycles

Owning a car or a motorcycle is great; it helps keep us on track in our fast paced lives. But, if we do not abide by the simple safety driving procedures, you definitely are at risk. In 2012, Los Angeles County alone, 59% motorcyclists were killed. This is more than 2010. And by 2013, California ranked third for motorcycle fatalities.[2] Thus, it is very important to buckle up your belts, wear your helmet and follow the traffic lights and other street signs. They serves as a warning. There could be some dangerous road ahead or any untoward incidences, and once you will not follow this and take proper precaution, trouble always meet you ahead, either a severe accident or a police honking you to pull over. And you know what will happen next.

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Walking

People who lives some blocks away from their workplace usually prefer to take a walk instead of driving their vehicle. This could save them a considerable amount of money on fuel. Plus it is a great way to exercise. Even so, although you are simply walking, it still is important to follow the road traffic signs. Wait for the green signal before crossing the lane, no matter if you are in a hurry or not. A lot of road accidents happen because some passersby merely doesn’t follow the traffic light signals. Also, do not forget to walk only in between the white lanes, or the so-called pedestrian lines.

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Final Thoughts

The issues and problems on the roads will never be resolve and forever will stay unless the citizens truly realize how necessary it is to follow traffic rules and regulations. As drivers, we are suppose to stay on our right lane, steer at the right speed, and follow every traffic sign. As pedestrian walkers, we are expected to cross at the right place, at the right time. If each party cooperates, we can achieve a harmonious flow of traffic.

Of course, we all live in an era where all of us are in a hurry and one simply cannot afford to waste time. But, being hasty can bring a lot more trouble and can basically cause more delay. There is no mad science to resolve road accidents or to keep ourselves safe and secure while on the streets. It all depends if all of us will submit to the traffic rules the government has set before us.